44 Aspirational Blocks e-inaugurated
* Directs YSS, S&T, Estates to complete targeted works by March
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: The Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today directed the Rural Development Department to gear up to meet annual capex targets for sustainable, people-centric development in the rural landscape of J&K.
He made this observation while reviewing the Capex of the department in which Commissioner/Secretary, Rural Development Department and other senior officers of the department were present.
The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that tendering is followed in all works in the department and all administratively approved and technical sanctioned works are allotted expeditiously in a transparent manner.
Dr. Mehta directed the department to meet the target of 30000 works under capex and saturate all the eligibility cases under PMAY-G with first installment by the end of the current fiscal year.
The Chief Secretary directed the department to cover all villages under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) during the current year besides targeting 4 lakh Mahila Kissans under Mahila Kissan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana Scheme (MKSPS) in the next year for creating sustainable livelihood options for women in the rural areas.
In her presentation, Commissioner/Secretary, Rural Development Department informed that the ongoing departmental works both in the category of non convergence and convergence works will be completed during the current fiscal year.
The Chief Secretary directed the department to prepare a compendium of fully functional 3000 Panchayat Ghars with geotagged photograps. He further directed the department to ensure that all Panchayat Ghars were supplied with computers by the end of January next year.
Dr. Mehta asked the department to explore the feasibility of setting up of CSCs at bus stands and village /sub-urban markets so that their maintenance is ensured through an aggregator approach.
In his presentation, the Principal Secretary, YSS informed that while 118 works out of 534 approved works have been completed so far, the remaining works will be completed by the end of the current year.
The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that every district has at least one playground with flood lighting facility.
In his presentation, the Principal Secretary, Science & Technology Department informed that Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) had sanctioned 19000 Solar Street Lights and all 19000 SSLs stand installed.
The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that all government buildings in Jammu City are provided with solar power facility on sustainable basis.
Dr. Mehta directed the department to explore the possibility of generating energy from biomass in Kashmir Valley, besides considering setting up of one plant in J&K for fuel generation from plastic wastes.
He asked the department to think about providing Solar Light options in Kandi areas.
Principal Secretary, Estates in his presentation informed that about equal number of heads of departments are working in both the capital cities of the UT and that after the practice of Darbar Move was stopped, work in offices across J&K is going on smoothly.
Dr. Mehta advised the department to improve the aesthetics of the entrance of the secretariat by de-congesting the area in and around the lawns and reimagining the existing landscape design so that the front yard of the secretariat becomes aesthetically pleasing.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary, e-inaugurated 44 Aspirational Blocks under Aspirational Block Development Programme in presence of Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Principal Secretary, General Administration Department, Sushma Chauhan, Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department, and other senior officers of department.
The Chief Secretary said that the Aspirational Block Development Programme is a step towards equitable and inclusive development in J&K.
He said the developmental realities of these blocks have been different from those, which are not part of this programme and, therefore, an affirmative action for these blocks was long overdue.
“The programme is expected to usher in a new era of development in these blocks,” he said.
Earlier in her presentation, Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department, informed that Aspirational Block Development Programme is aimed at achieving holistic development of the 44 most backward blocks in J&K.
These most backward blocks (2 most backward blocks from each District) have been selected as Aspirational Blocks based on their socio-economic backwardness on 21 parameters/indicators covering sectors like poverty, education, health & infrastructure in consultation with NITI Aayog,
Under the programme, the District Development Commissioners will prepare Aspirational Block Development Programme Plan in convergence with other schemes in the block. Asum of Rs. one crore per block has been earmarked under the programme and the District Development Commissioners will be the focal point for this programme, who will designate Nodal Officers for each such block in their districts for its implementation.
The Chief Secretary advised DDCs to explore innovative ways having regard to the unique challenges/ constraints in their areas for improving the socio-economic status of these backward blocks under the programme.
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